The City of Linden will show its colors Saturday as it puts on its first-ever Veterans Day parade.

The parade will begin at 11 a.m. at the intersection of U.S. Highway 43 and State Highway 28 in front of the courthouse.

“The parade will line up on Highway 28 West, then turn left onto Highway 43 South,” said city secretary Bruce Ward. “It will go through downtown to the street just past the Linden Inn. It will go down that side street that goes down by Schroeder Body Shop back to Shiloh Street, then down Shiloh to Highway 28 East, then we’ll take a left and go back to the courthouse.”

Demopolis attorney and Linden native Tom Boggs will be the parade’s grand marshal.

“I was very honored to have been asked to be the grand marshal of the parade in my hometown,” Boggs said, “not nearly so much for myself, but for being asked to represent the millions of men and women who have served in uniform for this country.”

Boggs began his military career in the artillery unit of the Alabama Guard in Linden in 1957. He served more than 35 years on active duty and in the Guard, having served as battalion commander to bring the military police battalion headquarters back to Linden after it moved to Prattville.

He received his commission from Infantry Officers’ Candidate School at Fort Benning, Ga., and commanded two detachments, two companies, two battalions and a special forces group, retiring as a full colonel.

Boggs earned the Legion of Merit Award, the Meritorious Service Medal with two Oak Leaf Clusters, the Army Commendation Medal, the Army Achievement Medal, the National Defense Service Medal with Bronze Star, the Special Forces Tab, the Master Parachutist Badge and the Italian and Portuguese Parachute Wings. He was also inducted into the Fort Benning OCS Hall of Fame.

Following the parade, a program will be held at the courthouse, with Boggs and Marengo County District Judge Wade Drinkard serving as guest speakers.

The parade will feature bands, pipers and vehicles carrying veterans from the area. The Linden Police Department’s new car will make its debut, leading the parade.

Wade said that people can still take part in the parade line-up by calling 295-5051.

“Golf carts are welcome, but no four-wheelers or three-wheelers,” he said. “Any trucks or cars that have a veteran they want to showcase are welcome, as long as they have a sign saying who they are.”